Pegasus Post: February 25, 2020

6
Tuesday February 25 2020
News
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
PEGASUS POST
Cumnor Tce
could become
one-way
• By Jess Gibson
A NEW cycleway connecting
Heathcote with the central city
could see a portion of Cumnor
Tce in Woolston turned into a
one-way street for motor vehicles.
The city council is asking for
public feedback on a proposal
to change the section of road
between Chapmans Rd and
Maunsell St.
Reasons the one-way option is
being explored include the street
being relatively narrow in places,
speed concerns and the safety of
pedestrians.
The change is being carried out
as part of the Heathcote Expressway
Major Cycle Route, which
will allow travel across Ferry Rd
and through Opawa, Woolston,
Charleston and Phillipstown.
The infrastructure, transport
and environment committee
approved construction of the
Heathcote Expressway from Ferry
Rd to Truscotts Rd at meetings in
2017 and 2018.
The committee also agreed to
explore options for increasing the
width of the cycleway on Cumnor
Tce, including having it become a
one-way street.
•Submissions are open until
March 9.
Concern over health of aviary birds
• By Matt Slaughter
COLLEEN PHILIP and Phil
Pearson believe birds are dying
because city council staff are
not tending to the aviary at
Woodham Park, Linwood, often
enough.
The husband and wife used
to love visiting the aviary but
say it has become infested with
mice. They are concerned there
is less fruit for birds to eat and
greenery to give them shade
than there used to be.
The couple are worried quails
and other birds may have died as
a result of this.
However, city council head
of parks Andrew Rutledge said
these factors have not killed any
birds in the aviary.
Said Mrs Philip, who works at
Orana Wildlife Park: “We’re not
sure exactly when, my husband
thinks it was some time maybe
a year ago, the standard just
dropped dramatically and they
[birds] were getting nothing.
They weren’t getting any extra
feed, they weren’t getting fruit
and vegetables in their hanging
trays.
“We’re really concerned that
we’re seeing, we think, quite a
high attrition rate, it’s not just
the quail.
“There was a huge mouse
invasion into the aviary and
it stinks, it still stinks.
“There are quails on the
ground with these mice scuttling
all around them,” she said.
Mrs Philip has seen fewer canaries
and finches in the aviary
than in previous years.
Said Mr Pearson: “There’s
a very, very basic level of care
which is almost degrading
the lives of the birds in the
aviary. They’ve got the mouse
infestation which is actually
putting them [birds] under a
lot of stress but actually putting
them under threat because of
course, the stuff that the mice
are bringing is really detrimental
to the birds and I suspect that
a lot of birds have died because
of it.”
However, Mr Rutledge said:
UPSET: Phil
Pearson
and Colleen
Philip with
their dog
Kelly. The
couple want
city council
staff to feed
and care for
birds at the
Woodham
Park aviary
more
often and
believe bird
numbers
have
decreased
there.
PHOTO:
GEOFF
SLOAN
“No birds have died due to the
mice or as a result of the food.
“We are exploring all options
available to ensure the health
and well-being of the birds.
“A pest control contractor has
been engaged to bring the mouse
population under control.
“A handful of greens are given
to the birds every time they
are fed.”
Exhibitors
Horncastle Arena,
26-28 June 2020
Book now
Don’t miss your opportunity to
showcase your business in front of
10,000+ qualified attendees
New exhibitor packages available
lisa.lynch@starmedia.kiwi or 021 800 809